Timing right for Countryside Lawn and Garden to buy building

The owners of Countryside Lawn and Garden Equipment have wanted to buy a permanent location for the business since they founded it in 2001.

Soft real estate prices and pending road work combined to provide Steven and Judy Luckhardt the right opportunity - a 2.9-acre site on Jackson Road near Staebler in Scio Township with a 7,360-square-foot warehouse and a 1,520-square-foot retail building.

They bought the site for $600,000 late last year, according to township records, and celebrated the new location's grand opening in late March.

Steven Luckhardt said owning instead of renting sends a positive message to customers, and is a better investment.

"People know you're permanent, people know you're part of the community," he said.

Countryside has been on Jackson Road since it opened, most recently at the old Ann Arbor Carpet building, which was 6,000 square feet.

Luckhardt said the pending expansion of the road from two lanes to four will result in more activity in the area.

"It's going to do nothing but grow with the road work," he said. "We wanted to get in at the early stage."

The Luckhardts financed the purchase through Comerica Bank using a Small Business Administration loan.

Luckhardt said the financing was relatively smooth, although the SBA piece took a little longer than usual. He said the amount he had to put into the transaction was not any greater because of the economy or credit markets.

The seller was an LLC associated with Charles R. Rogers, and the transaction was brokered by Charlie Koenn and John Evans of Swisher Commercial. They represented both sides.

Astro Truck Accessories had been manufacturing and selling its products at the site, but it sold off its production capabilities and scaled back to only sales and installation, Luckhardt said. It now rents part of the property.

Luckhardt, former service director at Naylor Chrysler Plymouth, said sales have been solid this spring.